The Mental Health Evolution

Ep 38: Advocacy, Autonomy and the Future of Psychotherapy with Linda Michaels of PsiAN

Rachel speaks with Dr. Linda Michaels, PsyD, MBA, a psychologist in private practice in Chicago and co-founder of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN). Founded in 2017, PsiAN was built to provide a unified voice for psychotherapists across all disciplines and theoretical orientations, advocating for access to quality care and pushing back against the forces reshaping the field. Dr. Michaels brings a rare combination of clinical training and a prior career in business, marketing, and organizational consulting, and that background is evident in how she analyzes the systems bearing down on the profession. The conversation opens with the origins of PsiAN, the research they have conducted with both the public and therapists, and why the organization has made it a priority to cut across the silos that limit collective professional power. The second half of the conversation takes a direct look at practice management companies and what therapists need to know before working with them. Dr. Michaels walks through PsiAN's research with nearly 700 therapists, revealing that despite promises of higher earnings, half reported making the same or less. She details the near-total insurance company ownership of these platforms, the data privacy concerns including a class action suit against Headway for sharing patient data with Google, and the growing use of therapy session transcripts to train proprietary AI language models. Dr. Michaels closes with a clear message for therapists: every business decision is ultimately a clinical one, and the profession's greatest asset in the face of corporate consolidation is knowledge, standards, and solidarity. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: They Thought They Were Doing Good, But It Made People Worse: Why Mental Health Apps Are Under Scrutiny — The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/04/they-thought-they-were-doing-good-but-it-made-people-worse-why-mental-health-apps-are-under-scrutiny [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/04/they-thought-they-were-doing-good-but-it-made-people-worse-why-mental-health-apps-are-under-scrutiny] Chatbots and AI Therapy Are Filling Gaps in Mental Health Care, but Regulation is Lagging — Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/04/19/chatbot-therapy-mental-health-regulations/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/04/19/chatbot-therapy-mental-health-regulations/] Practice Management Companies: What Therapists Need to Know — PsiAN: https://www.psian.org/practice-management-companies [https://www.psian.org/practice-management-companies] Connect with Dr. Linda Michaels and PsiAN: Website: https://www.psian.org/ [https://www.psian.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psianofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/psianofficial/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/psian/] Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast [https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast] Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Ep 37: Trusted Tools for Peer Workers with Naveen Raman

In this episode, Rachel Harrison speaks with Naveen Raman, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University whose research focuses on sequential decision making and the integration of human feedback into AI systems. Naveen is a developer behind PeerCoPilot, an AI powered assistant being tested in real behavioral health settings to support peer support workers in their day to day sessions. The conversation explores how PeerCoPilot works, from its curated database of vetted local resources to its built in tools for benefits navigation, web search, and structured wellness planning, and why the decision to avoid drawing from the open internet was central to its design. The second half of the conversation digs into the safeguards built into PeerCoPilot, including what Naveen describes as a Swiss cheese model of defense where no single layer of protection carries the full responsibility for catching errors. Rachel and Naveen explore the question of whether tools like this could eventually be used directly by service users, the practical and ethical complexities that come with that, and the broader vision for expanding PeerCoPilot to other peer organizations, county level resource hubs, and systems like 211. Naveen closes with a clear message for anyone thinking about AI in the mental health space: powerful tools still need to be carefully tailored to their specific context to truly serve the people within them. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: AI Use in Mental Health Help Seeking and Support — PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12595529/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12595529/] Human in the Loop, AI in Healthcare Systems — Frontiers in Psychiatry: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1505024/full [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1505024/full] PeerCoPilot: AI Assistant for Behavioral Health Navigation — Carnegie Mellon University: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2026/peer-copilot [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2026/peer-copilot] Connect with Naveen Raman: Website: http://naveenraman.com [http://naveenraman.com/] Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast [https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast] Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Ep 36: The Reality of Parity Enforcement

EPISODE SUMMARY In this solo episode, Rachel Harrison explores the reality of mental health parity enforcement through the lens of a recent case involving Aetna. She breaks down what mental health parity is intended to achieve under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and why, despite being in place for nearly two decades, the gap between policy and practice remains significant. Using the Pennsylvania fine against Aetna as a case study, Rachel walks through the specific violations uncovered, including claim delays, improper denials, and lack of transparency, and explains how these issues directly impact patients, providers, and access to care. The episode then broadens to examine the larger enforcement landscape, highlighting similar actions across states and the growing importance of state-level oversight as federal enforcement becomes less certain. Rachel also reflects on broader policy conversations happening at the state level, including efforts in places like Maryland to improve transparency and accountability in insurance reimbursement practices. The conversation raises important questions about accountability, the effectiveness of financial penalties, and what meaningful enforcement should look like moving forward. It ultimately offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective for clinicians, practice owners, and mental health leaders navigating insurance systems today. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: Shapiro Administration Protects Consumers, Fines Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Laws — Pennsylvania Insurance Department: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/shapiro-admin-protects-consumers-fines-aetna-violation-mental-health-parity-laws [https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/shapiro-admin-protects-consumers-fines-aetna-violation-mental-health-parity-laws] Pennsylvania Insurance Regulators Fine Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Regulations — Philadelphia Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/health/aetna-fine-pennsylania-mental-health-parity-20260303.html [https://www.inquirer.com/health/aetna-fine-pennsylania-mental-health-parity-20260303.html] Health Insurers Pay Penalty for Mental Health Parity Compliance Failures — HIPAA Journal: https://www.hipaajournal.com/health-insurers-penalty-mental-health-parity-compliance/ [https://www.hipaajournal.com/health-insurers-penalty-mental-health-parity-compliance/] Departments Announce Non-Enforcement of 2024 Mental Health Parity Rule — APA Services: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/nonenforcement-2024-mental-health-parity-rule [https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/nonenforcement-2024-mental-health-parity-rule] Related Episode: Mental Health Parity Advocacy and Policy with Deborah Steinberg https://pod.link/1724750091/episode/OWQ5YmYzMzMtZmQ5ZS00ZjUyLWFkMDEtZmFiZDdlNmVmNzZh [https://pod.link/1724750091/episode/OWQ5YmYzMzMtZmQ5ZS00ZjUyLWFkMDEtZmFiZDdlNmVmNzZh] CONNECT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH EVOLUTION Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast [https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/ [https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Ep 35: Ethical Marketing Strategies for Mental Health Practices with Adrienne Wilkerson

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Rachel is joined by Adrienne Wilkerson, founder and CEO of Beacon Media and Marketing and author of Digital Marketing for Mental Health. Adrienne brings a deeply informed perspective shaped by her experience growing up in a therapy practice and working closely with behavioral health organizations. Together, they explore how the mental health landscape is rapidly evolving as private equity backed organizations, larger systems, and AI driven tools reshape how practices compete for visibility. Adrienne shares what makes marketing in mental health fundamentally different, emphasizing the importance of empathy, ethical responsibility, and true human connection when reaching individuals in vulnerable moments. As the conversation continues, Rachel and Adrienne dig into the growing influence of AI in marketing and the broader mental health space. They unpack both the opportunities and risks, including the rise of AI generated content, the erosion of trust online, and concerning trends such as individuals turning to AI for support. Adrienne highlights the increasing difficulty of tracking marketing effectiveness, the return to less predictable attribution models, and the pressure this places on small practice owners. The episode closes with a forward looking perspective on how clinicians and organizations can adapt by staying grounded in authenticity, maintaining ethical standards, and prioritizing meaningful connection in an increasingly complex digital environment. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: Inside the Consolidation Renaissance Across Digital Behavioral Health — Behavioral Health Business: https://bhbusiness.com/2026/03/25/inside-the-consolidation-renaissance-across-digital-behavioral-health/ [https://bhbusiness.com/2026/03/25/inside-the-consolidation-renaissance-across-digital-behavioral-health/] How AI Is Changing Online Marketing for Small Businesses — Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishacharya/2025/10/14/how-ai-is-changing-online-marketing-for-small-businlesses/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishacharya/2025/10/14/how-ai-is-changing-online-marketing-for-small-businlesses/] Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct — American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index [https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index] Connect with Adrienne Wilkerson: Beacon Media and Marketing: https://www.beaconmm.com/ [https://www.beaconmm.com/] Digital Marketing for Mental Health (Book): https://digitalmarketingbook.beaconmm.com/ [https://digitalmarketingbook.beaconmm.com/] Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast [https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast] Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Ep 34: Mental Health Access, Telehealth Policy and the Future of Behavioral Health Care with Andrea Fox

🎧 Show Notes – Episode 34 Mental Health Access, Telehealth Policy & the Future of Behavioral Health Care with Andrea Fox In this episode of Mental Health Evolution, host Rachel Harrison speaks with Andrea Fox, Senior Editor at Healthcare IT News, about the evolving landscape of mental health access in the United States. Andrea brings more than two decades of experience covering healthcare technology, public health, and government policy, offering a grounded perspective on how telehealth expansion, regulatory uncertainty, and system-level barriers are shaping behavioral health care delivery today. Together, they explore what has meaningfully improved in access to mental health services since the rise of telehealth, where gaps still exist—particularly in rural and underserved communities—and why policy uncertainty continues to affect both providers and patients. The conversation also dives into the ongoing challenges surrounding telehealth prescribing regulations for controlled substances, the impact of insurance reimbursement structures on access to care, and how emerging efforts to integrate social determinants of health data could reshape behavioral health systems in the future. Finally, Andrea and Rachel discuss broader structural barriers—including provider shortages, cost, fragmented systems of care, and uneven access—and reflect on what a truly integrated, patient-centered mental health system could look like if policy and technology evolve in alignment. 🧠 Key Topics Covered * Major shifts in mental health access driven by telehealth * Persistent rural and underserved community access gaps * Federal policy uncertainty around telehealth prescribing rules * Insurance reimbursement and its impact on care delivery * Provider shortages and systemic behavioral health barriers * Social determinants of health data and care coordination * The future of integrated, patient-centered mental health systems 📰 Resources Mentioned * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/where-telehealth-stands-shutdown-every-day-goes-its-worse [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/where-telehealth-stands-shutdown-every-day-goes-its-worse] * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telehealth-prescribers-urge-feds-act-quickly-virtual-rx [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telehealth-prescribers-urge-feds-act-quickly-virtual-rx] * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/stakeholders-ask-new-dea-administrator-resolve-telehealth-prescribing-rules [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/stakeholders-ask-new-dea-administrator-resolve-telehealth-prescribing-rules] * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/addressing-behavioral-health-resources-and-costs-ohio [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/addressing-behavioral-health-resources-and-costs-ohio] 🎙 About the Guest Andrea Fox is Senior Editor at Healthcare IT News. She has spent more than two decades covering healthcare technology, public health, and government policy, with a focus on telehealth, digital health infrastructure, and behavioral health access. Her reporting highlights how policy decisions and technological systems shape real-world access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Recent work: * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telepsychiatry-may-still-be-out-reach-low-access-areas [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telepsychiatry-may-still-be-out-reach-low-access-areas] * https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-rural-mississippi-plans-put-federal-funds-work-addressing-health-it-needs [https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-rural-mississippi-plans-put-federal-funds-work-addressing-health-it-needs] 🔗 Connect with Mental Health Evolution Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast [https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/ [https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMentalHealthEvolution 🎶 Music Credit Music by Zach Harrison 💬 Closing Reflection This episode highlights a central tension in modern mental health care: while telehealth and digital tools have expanded access, structural challenges—including funding, regulation, and system fragmentation—continue to limit equitable care. The future of behavioral health will depend on how effectively policy, technology, and care delivery systems evolve together.